This is a highly decentralized aerospace business that has acquired 50 aerospace stand alone companies over the last 20 years. Each portfolio company stands alone with its own president, functional directors and support functions. The company thinks and acts like a large private equity business focused on the aerospace industry. The exception is that they rarely sell businesses that meet our criteria.

They focus on the design, development and supply of proprietary engineered components and their products are flying on every aircraft made in the free world. They sell products to the original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and to the integrators that supply systems to the OEM and also support the airlines and other operators of aircraft through the supply of spare and repaired parts.

JOB DESCRIPTION

Responsible for business results (Profit and Loss, meeting annual plan and growth in the value for a business). The scope of this position includes: leadership of a cross functional business unit team (sales, operations, engineering, quality), new business generation, proposal preparation, bookings (orders), Profit and Loss accountability, developing and maintaining customer relationships, establishing the yearly business plan, overseeing operating activities to ensure good customer service and cost objectives are met, contract negotiation and other duties.

This position focuses heavily on value creation. The Business Unit Manager focuses on details of value creation, i.e; value based pricing, continual cost improvement, and identifying profitable new business opportunities. He/She guides a team of sales personnel, engineers and manufacturing personnel to create real intrinsic value.

This is the key job in the company for promotion to senior management positions.

The successful Business Unit Manager has many of the following traits: